Transportation

As we begin the 2021-2022 school year, we are sharing important information and reminders regarding school transportation.

• Starting the School Year: School bus route pick-up and drop-off times may be delayed as the school year begins.
  
  We appreciate your patience with our drivers — the first week of school can bring unexpected delays as new traffic patterns develop. Our drivers are often learning new routes and students may be riding a bus for the first time. For the first few days of school, we anticipate the possibility of delays.
  
  We are also experiencing some situational challenges with local construction this month.
  
  In general, route times and processes should improve each day as routines become more familiar.  
   
• Staying Updated: We are committed to keeping you updated regarding ETA changes in bus transportation. Whenever there is anticipated delay, we will work to communicate that information promptly via email and/or text notification. 
   
• Working Together: During pick-up and drop-off times at schools, please be mindful of school buses entering and leaving school parking lots.
  
  Schools throughout our district have various pick-up/drop-off logistical layouts, which can create congestion points.
  
  When driving or parking at your school, please ensure buses are able to enter and leave school facilities to allow for routes to remain on time.
  
  If you are able, we encourage you to have your child ride the bus. This allows for less traffic in and out of our school parking lots.
   
• Staffing Shortage: The national school bus driver staffing shortage is impacting our district as well. Our bus drivers and staff are doing their very best while we work with fewer bus driving staff and substitutes than past school years.
  
  If you or someone you know may be interested in becoming a bus driver, paid training is provided and no experience is necessary. Visit psd401.net/jobs for more information.

The safety of our students is our top priority and we appreciate your understanding as we work to make our transportation more efficient.

Dear Peninsula School District Community,

As we manage the current impacts of COVID-19 on our transportation workforce, our school buses may be delayed at times. To help keep families informed of delays, we are excited to offer families a mobile-ready opportunity to see the exact location of their child’s school bus.

MyStop is designed to show the location of a school bus on a map, as well as the estimated time of arrival to a student’s specific bus stop. The location of the bus automatically updates every five seconds, meaning the estimated arrival time is continually updated to reflect any delays that occur while the route is behind schedule.

Parents can access this system:

• Via app: Search for MyStop in the app store and select “Versatrans MyStop.” (Please note there are several MyStop apps, so please make sure you choose the Versatrans version.)
• Via computer by clicking this link. 
  • Web tip: if tracking login sends you to "Find My Stop," try clearing your browser and clicking the link again or try the link in an "Incognito" window.

Here’s how you log into MyStop:

• User name is your child’s student ID number (contact your child’s school to obtain, if needed).
• Password is your child’s date of birth (Format: mmddyyyy) Example, January 8, 2001 = 01082001. 

We appreciate your patience as we have worked to provide the most complete package of bus routes that we could. Please know that some adjustments may be needed. If you are experiencing an issue that does not get resolved within a few days, please let your child’s school know.

Thank you,
PSD Leadership

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Helpful Hints

• Do not login to MyStop too early before your child’s scheduled pick-up or drop-off time. The data provided through MyStop is constantly changing. ETA’s are based on standard GPS route calculations, and not the actual length of time remaining to get to your child’s bus stop. You will access the most accurate data if you check the system within 10 minutes of your child’s scheduled pick-up or drop-off time.
   
• Parents and students do not have separate MyStop accounts and will use the same login information to access the system.  Please Note: MyStop links siblings by the primary phone numbers provided to and entered by the students’ schools.  If the first phone number listed at each school is not the same, each student’s account will need to be logged into separately.
   
• Rather than typing in the full URL address for MyStop each time you want to access the system, save it as a favorite on your desktop computer or add a quick link to the home screen of your smartphone or tablet to have quick and easy access to the system any time you need it.
   
• To protect drivers’ privacy, buses are only displayed for 30 minutes after the last transmission.
   
• Have your child arrive at their bus stop at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled bus stop time. This is necessary due to fluctuations in traffic.
   
• Please have your student wait safely outside of your vehicle so they are  visible to the approaching bus.

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Message Explanations

MyStop GPS is unavailable for bus #XYZ Estimated Time of Arrival: 1:11 p.m.

• This message will appear if MyStop is not able to acquire GPS location information for your child’s bus. There may be an issue with the GPS system.
  
  If you see this message, the estimated time of arrival is the time based on the scheduled route and time set by the Transportation Department.  It will not reflect the actual remaining travel time to your child’s bus stop.

Bus #XYZ is near MAIN ST Estimated Time of Arrival is Unavailable (bus passed stop)

• Your child’s route information may be in the process of being updated. Wait a minute for any updates to be completed. Then, if you still see this message and the current time is after your child’s scheduled pick-up or drop-off time, the bus may have passed your child’s stop.

Bus #XYZ is not yet running your scheduled route Estimated Time of Arrival: 3:54 p.m. (per schedule)

• Your child’s bus has not yet started its route or it has completed its route. If you see this message, the estimated time of arrival is the time based on the scheduled route and time set by the Transportation Department. It will not reflect the actual remaining travel time to your child’s bus stop.

“Bus is not on its scheduled route”

• You will see this message if the bus has been diverted from its predefined course or if it is in an area where the GPS signal is weak. 

“Bus [#] is not active”

• This means that the designated bus has not started, or has already completed, their defined route. 

Please note: In the event of unforeseen circumstances, alternate busses may be used and could affect the ability to provide real time GPS tracking. As always, please practice safety when driving or walking around school buses.